Vertical strip reel



Dec. 1934. J. A. SMITMANS I VERTICAL STRIP REEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1933 INVENTOR. J06 4.6mfl'T/rn/zs. B Y drawn),

$6 M ATTORNEKS Dec. 18, 1934. .1. A. SMITMANS VERTICAL STRIP REEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Filed July 6, 1935 wk 4. 6070977005. BY flaw/7w I YW ATTORNEYS.

Deb. 18, 1934. J. A. SMI'II'MANS VERTICAL STRIP REEL Filed July 6, 1953 26 -30 ull Z9 EINVENTOR. dob 1.4. efimilmns.

@rlw aumwyya 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 18, 1934 PATENT OFFICE VERTICAL STRIP REEL John A. smumm,

United Engineering Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to & Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 6, 1933, Serial No. 679,149

15 Claims.

My invention relatesto reels for coiling strips of sheet metal, and vertical type.

particularly to reels of the It is an object of the present invention to provide a reel having associated mechanism which guides the leading end of the strip to form the initial convolutions of the coil, and the latter is thereupon completed continuous operation.

expeditiously and with a It is a further object of my invention to provide a reel for forming coils which operates to maintain an approximately uniform tension upon strip metal being coiled.

In accordance with m invention, I provide an expansible reel for engaging and actuating the leading end of the strip,

for determining thediameter of the initial convolutions of the coil to be formed, and

for constituting a core for the coil during the winding operation. The expansible reel may be contracted and withdrawn when the coil is completed. series of guide rollers of the strip of metal The reel is surrounded by a which cause the leading end to assume a circular path and thus initiate the formation of the coil. These guide rollers are carried outwardly as the size of the arms that are movable coil increases.

The coil support, or

driven by a rotatable surface upon which the force with which the the weight supported increases in diameter.

by two semi-annular table, is rotatable and is member having a friction table rests, whereby the table is driven varies with thereby, and this force inthe coil and ap roxithat at which t e coil Accordingly, the increase in weight for varying the driving force is approximately the same the radius of the coil lever arm for pulling as the rate of increase of which is the length of the the strip during coiling, with the result that approximately constant tension is exerted on the strip from v coiling operation.

start to finish of the The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of my improved reel will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1

is a top plan view of the reel and certain associated mechanism; Fig.

2 is a front elevational Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view view of the apparatus of partially in vertical section and partially in elevation as viewed from the right, Fig.

2, of the reel mechanism.

The reel mechanism comprises a stationary framework 1 within which is supported a hollow sleeve 2 for rotation sleeve 2 is adapted to in bearings 3 and 4. The be driven by a bevel gear 5 throughya mechanism comprising a motor 6, a shaft 7 and a bevel pinion 8, Fig. 2.

The hollow sleeve 2 is provided at its upper end with a flange 10 upon which is mounted an annular ring of friction material 11 for supporting a horizontal annular table 12 preferably having an upper surface tapering slightly downwardly from the central portion. The table 12, which is rotatable with the sleeve 2 and its flange 10, is provided with a depending cylindrical portion 13, a flange 14, which engages the friction material 11, and a smaller cylindrical portion 15 that is mounted within the upper portion of the sleeve 2.

Within the lower cylindrical portion of the sleeve 2 and the cylindrical portion 15 of the table 2 is mounted an upright vertically movable shaft 16 which carries at its upper end an expansible reel 17 comprising a spider 18 having radial arms 19 upon which are pivotally mounted, for rocking movement, relatively heavy segments 20, the center of gravity of each of which is between the shaft 16 and the point of. pivotal support of the segment 20 whereby the latter tends to assume an inner position which corresponds to the contractedposition of the core for the coils that is constituted by the reel 1'7. Each of the segments 20 is provided with a substantially horizontal extension or foot 21 that is adapted,'when the shaft 16 is in its uppermost position, to engage an inwardly extending annular wearing plate 22 secured to the table 12. a

The vertical position of the shaft 16 is controlled by a mechanism'comprising a fluid pressure cylinder 24, the piston rod 25 of which is connected to a lever 26 having bifurcated ends and pivotally mounted between braclets 2'7. The lever 26 is provided at its other end with links 28 each of which engages a trunnion 29 on a thrust bearing 30 that supports the lower end of the shaft 16. The right half of the mechanism for controlling the shaft 16 is omitted from Fig. 3, but the omitted portion is symmetrical with that shown and the details thereof may therefore be readily understood, particularly in connection with the illus-- tration in Fig. 2. v

Located above the table 12, and in position to surround the reel 17 when the latter is in its uppermost position, are two curved arms 32 and 33 that are pivotally supported by pins or bolts 34 and 35, respectively, and each of which is provided with a series of spaced rollers 36, which are substantially vertical to confonn with the outer surfaces of the segments 20 when the latter are in their expanded positions, as illustrated, in Fig. 3. The pins 34 and 35 are inclined toward each other at the tops to cause the arms to move upwardly as they move outwardly, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

The curved arms 32 and 33 are respectively provided with spaced tapered projecting members 37 and 38 for guiding a strip of sheet metal therebetween on a line that is substantially tangent to the circle determined by the inner surfaces of the rollers 36. A stationary slotted guide 39 is in alignment with the opening between the projections 37 and 38 and in alignment also with pinch rolls 40 that are adapted to feed the leading end of metal strip for coiling.

The positions of the arms 32 and 33 are each adapted to be controlled by a rocker arm 42 and a link 43 having a yielding connection to the rocker arm 42 by means of a spring 44. The links 43 are connected to a traveling nut 45 that is mounted on a screw-threaded shaft 46, the latter being rotated by means of a motor 47, a pinion 48 and a gear 49 that is connected to a bearing sleeve 50 which is secured to the shaft 46.

In the operation of the reel mechanism, the motor 6 drives the gear 5 and the sleeve 2 to which it is connected, and also drives the horizontal table 12 by reason of its frictional driving con nection to the flange 10. The motor 6 also drives the pinch rolls 40 by means of a rope-driving mechanism comprising grooved pulleys 51 and 52 and a series of ropes 53 and a shaft 54.

It may be assumed the shaft 16 and associated parts are in their lower positions. The cylinder 24 is supplied with fluid pressure to cause its piston rod 25, and associated mechanism, to raise the bearing 30 and the shaft 16 therewith, to cause the reel 17 to be lifted from its lowermost position within the hollow cylindrical member 13 to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the latter position, the members 21 are caused to engage the annular wearing plate 22 to actuate the segments 20 to their upright or expanded positions corresponding to that of the segment 20 appearing in Fig. 3. The curved arms 32 and 33, with their guide rollers 36, are in the positions in which they are illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, and the inner edges of the rollers 36 engage the top of the wearing plate 22 and are frictionally driven by the latter.

The leading end of the metal strip is then supplied to the pinch rolls 40 and the latter feed the strip through the stationary slotted guide 39 and to the guideway formed by the projections 37 and 38 and into the relatively narrow space between the segments 20 and the rollers 36. The segments 20, which are rotating with the table 12' by reason of the engagement between the members 21 and 22, together with the driven rollers 36, carry the leading end of the strip entirely around within the series of rollers 36 to form the initial convolutions of the coil.

As' soon as the winding of the coil has progressed to such extent that the convolutions overlap, the pinch rolls may, be loosened .in order that the tension on the strip will be determined by the pull of the reel mechanism 'which will be limited by the frictional engagement between the table 12 and the sleeve 2 as described above. The increasing diameter of the coil causes the arms 32 and 33 to be moved outwardly about their points of pivotal support, such motion being permitted by the yielding connection provided by the springs 44.

The operation of the motor 47 may be initiated either manually or, if desired, by a flag switch that may be closed by either of the rocker arms 'the coil.

42 when the diameter of the coil is such as to cause an appreciable outward movement of the arms carrying the guide rollers 36. Motor 47 then operates through the mechanism for driving the screw-threaded shaft 46, and the traveling nut 45 then moves to the left to rock the arms 32 and 33 outwardly and upwardly from the coil to freely permit the increase in diameter of the latter since the projections 37 and 38 are not required to serve as guiding means after the initial convolutions are formed.

Inasmuch as the weight of the coil increases the weight upon the frictional connection between the driving means and the table 12, the driving force exerted by the table increases approximately at the same rate as the diameter of the coil, and the tension upon the strip is therefore sufficiently uniform for all practical purposes. The frictional driving connection for the table 12 insures that in case the movement of the strip being wound is obstructed for any cause no breakage of any of the parts will occur because of the yielding of the frictional driving connection.

When the coil has reached a desired diameter, the winding ceases, for example, by stopping the motor 6, and the strip of metal is severed. The cylinder 24 is operated to lower the bearing 30 and the shaft 16, together with the expansible reel comprising the segments 20. In the lowermost position of the shaft 16 thereel 17 with its segments 20 is returned within the cylinder 13 and entirely below the plane of the table 12.

When the coil has been tied or otherwise secured, it is removed from the top of the table 12 by means of a curved pusher 55, the horizontal position of which is controlled by means of a rack 56 that is supported by guide rollers 57 and is actuated by means of a pinion 58 that is driven by means of a motor 59 and reduction gear mechanism 60. The pusher is actuated to the right to transfer the completed coil to any suitable mechanism for receiving it for transportation to any suitable place for storage or further processing.

When the completed coil has been removed the motor 59 is reversed in any suitable manner to return the pusher mechanism to its inoperative position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The motor 47 is also reversed to return the arms 32 and 33 to their illustrated positions and the fluid pressure cylinder 24 is caused to return the shaft 16 and the expansible reel 17 to their uppermost positions for engagement and rotation with the table 12. All of these operations may occur substantially simultaneously, and only a comparatively brief interval is required to place the reel in position for winding the succeeding coil.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided a vertical strip reel having mechanism by means of which the initial convolutions of the coil may be easily and conveniently formed, and which mechanism is readily movable into and out of coil-forming positions. The tension on the material being wound is sufficiently nearly uniform that the several convolutions of the coil are wound with approximately'uniform.tightness.

All of .the mechanisms for beginning the operation of the coil and for controlling the winding of the coil are power driven and may be operated either manually or automatically as desired in accordance with the progress of the winding of The mechanism has been arranged to expedite the winding of coils since upon the completion of a coil it is quickly removed and the apparatus may be readily adjusted for the be.- ginning of the succeeding coil.

The provision of inclined pivots for the arms carrying the guide rollers avoids the wedging action that might occur if only the taper of the table surface was relied upon to separate the rollers and the table as the arms were moved outwardly. The increased angle of movement toward the table insures engagement between the rollers and the table in the proper relative positions of these parts.

The foregoing and other advantages willbe apparent to those skilled in the art of constructing and operating reels of the same general character as those "of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a rotatable table, an expansible reel having elements that are actuated into expanded positions by engagement with said table and rotated by frictional contact with the table when so engaged, means for moving said reel into and out of engagement with said table, and means for driving said table.

2. In combination, a rotatable table for supporting a coil, an expansible reel that is movable into and out of frictional engagement with said table for rotation thereby, frictional driving means for said table, and means for controlling the position of said reel and its expansion.

3. In combination, a rotatable table, an expansible reel that is movable into engagement with said table for rotation thereby and for the expansion of said reel, means surrounding said reel for guiding the leading end of strip to be wound thereon to form the initial convolutions of said strip, and means for driving said table and for controlling the engagement of said table and said reel.

4. In combination, a rotatable table for supporting a coil thereon, an expansible reel having radially movable elements that are moved to expanded positions by engagement with said table for rotation thereby when the reel is in the plane of the coil to .be formed, means for moving the reel into and out of engagement with the table, and means for driving the table with a force varying with the weight of the table and the coil thereon. I

5. In combination, a power driven table, a rotatable vertical reel having a plurality of segments that are pivotally mounted for radial movement into expanded or contracted positions said segments being biased by gravity into their contracted positions and adapted to be actuated into their expanded positions, both by rotational reaction and by engagement with said table, power means for driving said table and reel, and means for raising and lowering said reel into and out of operative position with respect to said table.

'6. In combination, a rotatable coil support, a reel movable relatively thereto into and out of operative alignment therewith, said reel comprising a plurality of radially movable members biased by gravity to their contracted positions and adapted to be actuated to their expanded positions by engagement with said table and centrifugal forces produced by rotation, movable guiding means for causing the leading end of a strip to form initial convolutions of a coil around said reel, and means for actuating said members into and out of operative position in the plane of the coil to be formed.

7. In combination, a horizontal table for supporting a coil to be formed thereon, an expansible reel movable vertically into and. out of the plane of the coil, said reel having radially movable elements that are moved to expanded positions by engagement with said table when the reel is in operative position, said radial elements having means for engaging said table for rotation therewith, a rotatable member having a friction surface for supporting and driving said table, and means for moving said reel into and out of theplane of the coil to be formed.

8. In combination, a horizontal annular table for supporting a coil to be formed thereon, a rotatable member for supporting said table and having a frictional engaging surface for supporting said table and for driving it with a force varying with the weight of the coil as it is formed, and an expansible reel vertically movable within the annular table into and out of the plane of the coil to be formed, said reel having elements biased by gravity to their contracted positions and actuated by engagement with said table into their expanded positions and said elements being rotated by said table when in engagement therewith.

9. In combination, a horizontal coil support, means for forming a coil on said support, rotatable friction means for supporting said coil support and the coil thereon, and means for driving said friction means to rotate said coil support with a force dependent upon the weight upon said friction means, the radius of the coil and the weight upon the friction means both progressively increasing at approximately the same rate and thereby maintaining the tension on the material being wound approximately uniform.

10. In combination, a horizontal coil support a central reel means for winding a coil of strip material on said support about said reel, while maintaining approximately uniform tension on the material being wound, said means comprise ing a rotatable member having a friction surface for supporting said coil support and driving the latter with a force varying with the weight thereon, the driving force increasing approximately at the same rate as the radius of the coil and thereby maintaining the tension on the strip material approximately uniform, and adjustable guide means provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers for causing the leadingend of a strip to form the initial convolutions of a coil around said reel, said rollers being disposed to engage at one of their end faces the surface of said table and be rotated thereby.

11. In combination, a rotatable coil support, and guiding means for forming the initial convolutions of a coil, said guiding means comprising a circular series of rollers disposed to simultaneously engage a coil and said coil support and be rotated thereby.

12. In combination, a rotatable coil support for engaging the edge of a coil, and guiding means for forming the initial convolutions of a coil comprising an outer series of rollers driven byengagement at one of their end faces with said coil support and an inner series 'of members rotatable with said coil support.

13. In combination, a rotatable coil support, and guiding means for forming the initial convolutions of a coil, said guiding means comprising a circular series of rollers carried by a pair of oppositely movable arms and which rollers engage at one of their end faces the coil support for rotation thereby when the arms are closely adjacent and are disengaged from the-coil support when the arms are separated a distance in excess of 'one thickness of the material being coiled.

14. In combination, a rotatable coil support, guiding means for forming the initial convolutions of a coil, said guiding means comprising a circular series of rollers carried by a pair of oppositely movable arms having inclined pivotal supports, the rollers engaging the coil support in one position of the arms and being raised thereabove in another position of the arms, and means resiliently biasing said arms in a direction to initially maintain said rollers in frictional driving weenie contact with said coil support and in contact with the periphery of the coil as it builds up.

15. In combination, a rotatable coil support, guiding means for forming the initial convolutions of a coil on said support, said guiding means being radially adjustable and comprising a circular series of rollers disposed to engage at one of their end faces the surface of said coil support and be rotated thereby, and means for adjusting said guiding means out of the planeof said sup- 10 port.

JOHN A. SMITMANS. 

